When the ancient Polynesians invented surfing, they often used a paddle to help them navigate. Fast-forward a few millennia, and Stand-Up Paddleboarding, or SUP, finds itself trendy again. Part of its increasing popularity is that standing upright allows surfers to spot waves more easily and thus catch more of them, multiplying the fun factor. Paddling back to the wave becomes less of a strain as well. The ability to cruise along on flat inland water, surveying the sights, is another advantage. Finally, its a good core workout. If youre sold on the idea, schedule an intro SUP lesson, free with board and paddle rental, and you may find yourself riding the waves like a Polynesian king.More

In the past 30 years, light artists have reimagined an art form that has always had the ability to turn the night sky, or a simple window, into luminescence. Last fall, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts turned its southern glass wall into a parade of sound-sensing lights, Lightswarm, that changes with the movements of nearby people and things. Future Cities Lab, the San Francisco design company behind Lightswarm, has originated another notable light sculpture. Located by the YBCA's steps at 701 Mission, Murmur Wall will light up in arresting ways as it incorporates local trending search engine results and social media postings. Onlookers can offer their own contributions, which will feed into the Murmur Wall's data stream and light up the sculpture. What's trending in San Francisco? If you're walking by the YBCA, you can see firsthand — at least through light patterns that reflect the city's volatile internet habits.
Murmur Wall debuts Thursday at 6 p.m. and continues through May 31, 2017, at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St., S.F. Free; 415-978-2700 or ybca.org. More

After
18 years together and only one lineup change (drummer Brent DeBoer
joining in 1998), Taylor-Taylor's claim of being "the most well-adjusted
band in America" seems to hold true. Last night, the Dandys tightly gathered on stage in
front a massive fabric backdrop with the band's name and under a strobe, making
it feel like a 1990s prom. They delivered a two-hour set packed with fan
favorites -- and seemed to have fun doing it, too.

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Touring for its eighth album, This Machine, few in the predominantly over-30 crowd knew any songs outside the Dandys' best-loved and early albums ... The Dandy Warhols Come Down (1997) and Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia (2000). The band has maintained its late-'90s sound, a gift and a curse when compared to the ever-evolving Brian Jonestown Massacre, which is now on tour for its experimental and instrumental new album, Aufheben.

The first stop in a long, national tour, Taylor-Taylor's vocals already sounded tired and strained, but he made it work, channeling his inner Iggy Pop, snarling as he sang, and telling stories between songs or during keyboardist Zia McCabe's "potty breaks."

"You know we started playing S.F. in '94-95 at house parties in the Mission," Taylor-Taylor said. "We liked playing S.F. so much, it took us three years to get up to Seattle."

click to enlarge

Along with the Brian Jonestown Massacre, who formed in San Francisco in 1990, Portland's the Dandy Warhols helped revive the San Francisco music scene, adding to it elements of grunge, goth, and a 1960s London sound. It's heard in the Dandys' greatest hits, all performed last night, including "Bohemian Like You," "We Used to be Friends," "Godless," "Mohammed," "Horse Pills," and "Get Off."

No surprises in this set. As expected, the Dandys left the mischief to the Brian Jonestown Massacre and played it safe.

Critic's Notebook

Overheard: "Am I at a Butthole Surfers' concert?"

Random detail: Popscene's Aaron Axelsen (@AaronAxelsen) revealed on Twitter that the Dandy Warhols at the Cat Club was the first band ever booked at this now-legendary weekly party.

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Sub Pop recording artists 'clipping.' brought their brand of noise-driven experimental hip hop to the closing night of 2016's San Francisco Electronic Music Fest this past Sunday. The packed Brava Theater hosted an initially seated crowd that ended the night jumping and dancing against the front of the stage. The trio performed a set focused on their recently released Sci-Fi Horror concept album, 'Splendor & Misery', then delved into their dancier and more aggressive back catalogue, and recent single 'Wriggle'.
Opening performances included local experimental electronic duo 'Tujurikkuja' and computer music artist 'Madalyn Merkey.'"